Times of Trenton Letters to the Editor - Dec. 2

View full sizeN.J. Division of Consumer AffairsPackets of "bath salts," "K2" and other brands of synthetic marijuana and methamphetamines seized by the Division of Consumer Affairs during a summer crackdown last year.

As a recovering addict who now helps people through the detox process, I have witnessed the destruction synthetic marijuana causes. This chemically enhanced substance, which attracts teenagers, has done far more damage than people realize.

It is often used in conjunction with other drugs or alcohol, thus increasing its already debilitating psychological and physical effects. Users rushed to emergency rooms throughout the state tell of hallucinations, paranoia, severe agitation, elevated heart rate, vomiting, seizures and dangerously high blood pressure.

More so, fruity flavors and catchy names appeal to teens, who believe they are simply smoking an alternative, legal form of marijuana.

Throughout the last year at Sunrise Detox, we have witnessed an increase in violent episodes brought on by the use of all different sorts of synthetic drugs. Without strict regulation, these violent incidents would have become increasingly common across New Jersey.

By permanently banning this substance, lawmakers have proved they have the best interests of New Jerseyans at heart.

-- John Moriarty,
Stirling
The writer is a detoxification expert at Sunrise Detox (sunrisedetox.com).

Booker understands what adoptees need

I believe the adoption community will walk hand-in-hand with lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations to support Newark Mayor Cory Booker for governor.

Fueled by Mayor Booker’s appearance on PBS’ “Finding Your Roots,” leaders in adoption reform feel strongly that Mr. Booker will support the rights of adoptees to access their sealed birth records and learn of their heritage.

Mayor Booker considered learning about his complex heritage as an “incredible gift” — a gift the adoption community prays is not one reserved for the privileged.

Gov. Chris Christie will profess that improving civil unions for gays and assigning probation officer-like intermediaries for adoptees will suffice, but in the end, these positions reek of separate-but-equal policies, a stench that hurricane Sandy cannot wash away.

Having performed litter control duties on behalf of the National Park Service at Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area for more than 40 years, I would like to share one thought that stands out above all others.

Our national parks are publicly shared landscapes that represent our nation’s beauty, wildlife and history. These places, however, seem not to affect people’s sense of pride. The parks are heavily abused and trashed — dumped on by the public. At the same time, this fact of life somehow seems to offend no one.

Visitors and outdoor enthusiasts who use these places seldom participate in defending these natural resources. In theory, our national parks should be very clean and well looked after, especially by those mentioned above.

Recently, while cleaning up trash left by illegal campers at the Blue Mountain Lake site — which consisted of plastic water containers, beer cans, plastic packaging and utensils that lay scattered about not far from a trash receptacle provided by the Park Service — I couldn’t help but realize the total lack of civic-mindedness and leadership inherent in the group or groups that left the garbage.

It seems not one person would take it upon him- or herself to be responsible or to encourage the group’s individuals not to behave in this disrespectful manner.

In the 40 years of policing the parks, I am sorry to say that I have observed no signs of patriotism.

-- Nick R. Homyak,
Lake Hiawatha

Better schools, better home values

Nearly 10 years ago, my wife and I moved to Robbinsville because it had a good school system, which is a tremendous upside.

Since that time, our schools have improved and our property values have benefited as a result. Now, we have an opportunity to help take our schools to the next level.

Like most of my fellow residents, I don’t want to see our property taxes increase.

However, the reality is that if our schools do not get much-needed repairs and additional space, our property values will be adversely affected. The impact could be much greater than a relatively small increase in property taxes.

I encourage my fellow residents to seize the opportunity and vote “Yes” on the Dec. 11 referendum that will keep our schools moving in the right direction. It’s a decision that will not only have a short-term impact, but one that yields tremendous value in the years to come.

-- Rich Young,
Robbinsville

No time to waste in fighting climate change

In case readers have not yet seen it, an article by editor David Remnick in the New Yorker (Nov. 19) surprisingly announces that President Barack Obama’s “larger challenge, graver ... than any fiscal cliff, is global warming.”

He quotes former World Bank economist Nicholas Stern, saying that the costs of climate change “are vastly greater than those posed by the collapse of the Western financial system.”

Mr. Remnick states that the real test of Mr. Obama’s determination is a willingness to step outside the day-to-day tumult of Washington politics and establish a sense of urgency about the issue. He urges the president to begin by giving a presidential address to the country.

Mr. Remnick points out that politicians (and many citizens) have persuaded themselves that there will be time to deal with climate change. But, he observes, “There will be no better time. There will only be worse times.”

We citizens need to act in many ways and at many levels to take steps to reduce CO² emissions.

Local members of the Citizens Climate Lobby, the Sierra Club and others are seeking ways to compel action, be it by contacting local politicians, joining the Million Letter March on Congress or eventually participating in a real march on Washington, D.C. (possibly in 2014) to urge policy action.

It seems clear that we all need to act.

-- Huck Fairman,
Princeton

Hamilton residents got the worst of it

The conviction of Mayor Bencivengo for corruption is like a burglar alarm screaming that a robbery just took place (“Bencivengo guilty, resigns as mayor,” Nov. 21). Too bad for Hamilton that our township “security guards” were asleep at their post or “encouraged” to look the other way. The trial revealed that the influence of illegal money has reached far and wide through the ranks of Republicans holding elected or appointed positions, both in Hamilton and nearby towns.

Naturally, the members of Hamilton council all claim to be shocked by what the trial revealed and innocent of any bad behavior. Despite their indignant protests, it sure doesn’t smell that way to me.

The insurance broker pocketed more than $600,000 in taxpayer money that should have been spent on our students and our schools, but we are supposed to believe that no one noticed until the feds pulled the covers off the mess.

The total lack of action by our all-Republican elected officials to launch an investigation or take any steps to protect against further corrupt behavior in Hamilton’s government speaks loudly as to whether they can be trusted with taxpayers’ interests.

Everybody had everybody’s back, except for us hard-working Hamilton taxpayers, who just got stabbed in the back.

The next election can’t get here soon enough to suit me, but when it does, I will vote to end the cartel of corruption allowed to exist and flourish under Republican control.